Steven EnderGRAND RAPIDS -- Grand Rapids Community College has hired an Ann Arbor consultant to compare salaries to those in other institutions after concerns from President Steven Ender they might be "unsustainable."

The comparison, which will include schools in and out Michigan, is expected to be wrapped up in late spring.

However, Ender said he will likely wait until late summer to accept it so he can present it to GRCC employees when they reconvene for fall classes.

The board of trustees Monday approved spending $68,200 to hire Municipal Consultant Services for the project. The company is to compare GRCC salaries with those at four peer in-state colleges, four similar out-of-state schools and two public institutions in the city.

Original plans called for the report to be done in April and shared with staff by the end of the semester. But Ender said the consultant said the volume of the work would require more time.

"I think to share this report with the media before my employees would not be showing them the respect and courtesy they deserve," he said.

Ender called for the study last year after telling employees some of the salaries are "approaching being excessive and unsustainable."

He said some salaries might be frozen, but not reduced, should they prove higher than in other colleges in the outside comparison.

The project is being guided by a committee including presidents from all five of the college's unions, Ender and the executive director of human resources.

A 2007 review by The Press of GRCC salaries showed nearly half of full-time professors -- 113 of 242 -- made more than $100,000. Most combined base salaries that average $80,000 with an extensive overtime plan, which since has been amended.

About 81 percent of the college's expenses tied to personnel.

Professors in early 2008 agreed to a three-year deal that offered a 2.25 percent raise the first year and 2 percent the following two years. Other college groups in June agreed to 2 percent raises.

Unions recently agreed to extend the contracts a year to allow time for the comparison and the process to determine how salaries might be adjusted.

Union leaders have said they are supportive of the plan, and are willing to work with Ender.